Oscars 2017: Academy Awards get political as Asghar Farhadi blasts Donald Trump's travel ban
Updated
The most political moment of the Oscars has so far come from a winner not in the room.
Iranian director Asghar Farhadi picked up the Academy Award for best foreign language film for The Salesman, a drama about a couple whose relationship begins to turn sour during their performance of Arthur Miller's classic play.
Farhadi boycotted the ceremony in protest at President Donald Trump's controversial US travel ban — a measure he condemned in a powerful statement read to Hollywood's finest by Anousheh Ansari, an Iranian astronaut.
"I am sorry that I am not here tonight. My absence is out of respect for the people of my country and the other six nations whom have been disrespected by the inhumane law that bans entry of immigrants to the US," it said.
"Dividing the world into the 'us' and 'enemy' categories creates fear.
"A deceitful justification for aggression and war. These wars prevent democracy and human rights in countries which have themselves been victims of aggression."
He concluded with a passionate defence of the power of film to break stereotypes, and create "an empathy we need today more than ever".
Firouz Naderi, a former NASA director, and an Iranian, stood beside Ms Ansari as she read Farhadi's words.
Backstage, Ms Naderi said Farhadi chose two scientists who focus on space because, "if you go away from the Earth and look back at the Earth you don't see the borders and the lines".
The Salesman was not an early favourite to win, but gathered pace as anger around the US immigration restrictions grew. and netted Farhadi his second Oscar.
Farhadi's victory marked an unambiguous statement from Hollywood to the US President, on a night expected to be dominated by musical La La Land.
Protests swirled in the run-up to the Oscars, and host Jimmy Kimmel landed a few direct hits on Mr Trump in his opening address, saying the President's policies had made the Oscars seem less racist.
Mr Trump was also the focus of a low-key red carpet protest, with stars sporting blue ribbons in a show of support for the American Civil Liberties Union, which fought to overturn his travel ban.
The measure, which targeted predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran, also led to an unprecedented show of solidary between the six nominated directors in the foreign language category.
Two days before the Oscars, the six directors issued a joint statement decrying the climate of "fanaticism and nationalism" in the US "and in so many other countries, in parts of the population and, most unfortunately of all, among leading politicians".
They said that no matter who won, the award would be dedicated to people working to foster "unity and understanding".
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Ruth Negga arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP Jordan Strauss)
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Emma Stone arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP: Richard Shotwell)
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Chris Evans, left, and Jeremy Renner arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP: Jordan Strauss)
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Sunny Pawar arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP: Jordan Strauss)
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Taraji P. Henson arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP: Jordan Strauss)
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Felicity Jones arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP: Richard Shotwell)
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Janelle Monae arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP: Jordan Strauss)
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Halle Berry arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP: Jordan Strauss)
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Keith Urban, left, and Nicole Kidman arrive at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP: Jordan Strauss)
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Leslie Mann arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP: Jordan Strauss)
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Jackie Chan arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP: Jordan Strauss)
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Hailee Steinfeld arrives at the Oscars on Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP: Matt Sayles)
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Auli'i Cravalho performs Oscar-nominated song How Far I'll Go from Moana. (AP/Invision: Chris Pizzello)
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Viola Davis delivers her acceptance speech after winning the best supporting actress Oscar for Fences. (AP/Invision: Chris Pizzello)
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Dev Patel (left) and Lion co-star Sunny Pawar at the Academy Awards. (AP/Invision: Matt Sayles)
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A tour group was brought into the Oscars ceremony and winner Mahershala Ali lent a fan his statue for a selfie. (AP/Invision: Chris Pizzello)
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Host Jimmy Kimmel walks on stage at the Oscars. (AP/Invision: Chris Pizzello)
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Ryan Gosling, left, and Emma Stone introduce a performance at the Oscars on Sunday, February 26, 2017, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles. (AP: Chris Pizzello/Invision)
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Justin Hurwitz, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul — who composed City of Stars in La La Land —win the Oscar for Best Original Song. (Reuters: Lucy Nicholson)
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Anna Udvardy and Kristof Deak hold their Oscars for Best Documentary Short Subject for The White Helmets as they pose with presenters David Oyelowo (L) and Selma Hayek (R). (Reuters: Lucas Jackson)
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Damien Chazelle accepts the award for winning Best Director presented by Halle Barry. (Reuters: Lucy Nicholson)
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Casey Affleck speaks as he accepts the Oscar for Best Actor for Manchester by the Sea. (Reuters: Lucy Nicholson)
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Best Actress winner Emma Stone accepts her award for La La Land. (Reuters: Lucy Nicholson)
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Warren Beatty holds the card for the Best Picture Oscar awarded to Moonlight, after announcing by mistake that La La Land was the winner. (Reuters: Lucy Nicholson )
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Topics: academy-awards-oscars, event, arts-and-entertainment, film-movies, human-interest, awards-and-prizes, actor, united-states
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